“Let me explain a few things to you,” he says, his tone precise. “For some strange reason, my ex, Rebecca, was allowed through the screening process, which made little sense to me because I had previously communicated to you that I had no interest in her. As in, none.”
He leans forward, his hands gripping the edge of my desk. I look up, and his dark eyes are filled with regret.
“She came in, stripped out of her dress, and turned on a porn video on her cell phone. It was a desperate and shameless attempt to get under my skin. I opened the door, wanting her to be removed, but when I found the security guard gone, I went in search of someone to help. I knew Rebecca wasn’t leaving without a fight. And the last thing I wanted was to be in the same room with my naked ex, and have you walk in on that and assume the worst. Which is apparently what happened.”
My windpipe threatens to close. Dear God . . . I thought they were in there fucking like rabbits. My eyes wouldn’t let me look.
“And that was after I’d been proposed to eight times, and asked for my credit score, my blood type, if I was into double penetration or bestiality, was willing to have my palms read, and one crazy broad wanted to check my cock for warts.”
“Holy shit. Are you serious?”
“Deadly. It was quite a fucking morning.”
“So you didn’t fuck Rebecca?”
“God, no.”
I take a deep breath. “Was there anyone nice and normal who you liked?”
“There were a few who seemed like nice girls, but no, I didn’t like any of them. It turns out, I’ve already given my heart to someone else.”
I swallow, so badly wanting to believe he’s talking about me, but I won’t let myself go there just yet.
“And to top it all off, you were gone. Nowhere to be found.”
“I’m sorry about that. I thought you were in there fucking Rebecca. And after what we shared Friday night . . .” My mouth goes dry, and I can’t continue.
“I understand. I get it. It was just a really tough weekend to get through. I thought you weren’t speaking to me because of the whole Anna thing. And I want you to know, I had no interest in her whatsoever. Even less after I realized how little she values loyalty and friendship.”
“It was a difficult weekend for me too.”
Losing Anna was unexpected. But spending all weekend mourning the loss of the fragile foundation I’d built with Sterling was worse. I recall what Noah told me about Sterling having been known in the past to engage in random hookups with women he’d just met. And even though nothing happened this time, I’m still on edge about what that could mean, what kind of man he is underneath the shiny exterior I’ve gotten to know.
“I want you to know that Friday night meant everything to me.”
I can’t look up and meet his eyes. I don’t trust myself.
Instead, I stammer, “No matter what happened between us, I vow to see this through till the end. I’ll be a professional and won’t let anything get in the way of you getting what you want—a wife.”
“You really are an amazing woman, Cami.” He smiles at me fondly with that guarded tenderness I’ve grown to love.
I motion for him to hand me the green folder. “I’ll get dates set up for this week with your finalists.”
“Sure,” he says, handing me the folder before turning to leave.
I draw in a long, slow inhale as my frayed nerves threaten to riot and send me into a tailspin. I’m thirty minutes into my Monday, and so far I’ve fired Anna and then had Sterling tell me that he didn’t lay so much as his little finger on Rebecca, let alone stuff his cock inside her. And I believe him. I just do.
I stare at that folder for a long time. Then I set it aside and attempt to finish the e-mail I was writing.
Fuck it.
Knowing I won’t be able to concentrate until I see what’s inside, I grab the folder from my desk.
Slowly, I open it and find the picture’s turned over, so only the back side of the glossy photo paper faces me. With trembling fingers, I lift one corner and flip it over.
For several seconds, I just stare at it blankly, my brain struggling to comprehend.
It’s me.
The photo is one of me. Taken when I sat across from him and his mother in the booth at that ice cream shop, a dot of whipped cream on my lower lip and a smile in my eyes. He’d snapped it with his cell phone, and I never thought anything of it.
But now it feels like everything.
Except . . . what does it mean?
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Sterling
I wanted to give Camryn some time, so I’ve kept myself busy with the mountain of work on my desk, but now it’s after five and my heart is in my throat.
I grab my leather carry-all, cell phone, and suit jacket, and head out. The New York City streets are filled with weary commuters and cyclists and cabbies, all jockeying to get through the throngs. They long to be home with loved ones. There are wives to kiss, children who need a bath, crying babies who miss their mothers, and meals to be enjoyed at tables all around the city. It’s something I’ve never taken the time to consider, but on this cool fall evening, I feel more alone than I have in a very long time.
I could call up a mate, go to a pub, enjoy a pint, and maybe even pick up a girl to bring home. But the only girl I want is Camryn. I could go visit my mother. Except what if she’s having one of her off days, and doesn’t recognize me? I don’t think I’m game for any more rejection right now.